Latest news with #Freelander
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Bold push for new tax on soft drink, juices
A sugar tax on soft drink, sweetened juice and cordial is being backed as a way to reduce soaring rates of obesity and diabetes. Coinciding with National Diabetes Week, the Australian Medical Association has called for a new tax at a rate of 50c per 100g of added sugar, to be paid by beverage manufacturers. Under the proposal, a standard 375mL of full-sugar Coke with 39.8g of sugar would incur a tax of 19.9c, while a 600mL bottle of Berry Ice Powerade would be hit with a 17.8c levy for its 34.8g of sugar. Macarthur MP Michael Freelander, who is also a practising pediatrician, said a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages would encourage companies to put less sugar in drinks, however a tax should be considered alongside of broader education measures. 'I think that we owe it to the next generation to try and make sure they are healthier than our generation,' he told NewsWire. 'And what we're now seeing is children presenting with obesity and with type two diabetes. And we should not be seeing that.' The AMA has called for a new tax . NewsWire/ John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia In 2024, costings released by the Parliamentary Budget Office and requested by Dr Freelander found a 20 per cent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages would boost revenue by more than $1.3bn in two years, however he said any policies should be trialled before further implementation. Dr Freelander stressed education was the best way to improve public health outcomes. These included town planning to ensure children could walk to schools and shopping centres and not fast food outlets, plus increased access to healthy food, like subsidies on 'certain forms of food'. 'We do now see lots of societal changes that are causing health problems and one of the issues is the access to highly processed foods,' he said. 'So it's not just about drinks, it's also about making people aware of the dangers of high calorie highly-processed foods.' The Australian Medical Association have renewed calls for a sugar tax on sweetened drinks like soft drink, juice and cordials. Mike Freelander said he supported a levy on sweetened drinks but said a tax should be implemented alongside measures to boost public health. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia AMA Vice President Julian Rait said the sugar tax was the 'best chance' or reducing rates of obesity and chronic disease like type 2 diabetes. He said the proposal would drive down consumption by 2kg per person and increase the budget bottomline by $3.6bn which could be 'invested in other crucial preventive health measures'. He added that more than 100 jurisdictions have implemented a sugar tax, like the UK, France, Mexico and Ireland. 'For people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, reducing sugar intake through swaps like drinking water over soft drinks can make a profound difference to their long-term health,' he said. 'Last year it was revealed the sugar content in popular soft drink Fanta had increased by 60 per cent, despite industry assurances that sugary drinks were being reformulated.' Health Minister Mark Butler said Labor had ruled out a potential levy or tax, and said the government's priorities were on 'front-of-pack labelling' and working with companies to reduce the amount of sugar in foods. 'There is no plan in our government for a sugar tax. We're instead focusing on education and also working with food manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar that they put into their products,' he said in late May after the federal election. As it stands, health labels are administered by the Health Star Rating system which companies can voluntarily adhere to.
AU Financial Review
5 days ago
- Health
- AU Financial Review
Stop the mental health blowout, says Labor MP
Paediatrician and Labor MP Mike Freelander has called out overdiagnosis of mental health problems as the reason for an unsustainable surge in life insurance and workers' compensation claims at the same time as the insurance regulator has warned it is closely monitoring the prudential risks posed by ballooning payouts. Freelander, who is expected to be reinstalled as chairman of a parliamentary health committee during the Albanese government's second term, said too many claims lacked an evidence-base, which meant many people were being over-compensated.
Auto Blog
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
The Freelander Is Back, But Not Quite How You Remember It
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The Freelander name is returning, but not as a Land Rover. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and its Chinese partner of 12 years, Chery, are reviving the badge as a standalone electric vehicle brand under their CJLR joint venture. The idea is to combine Chery's strength in the Chinese market with JLR's design expertise and iconic British heritage. Initially focused on China, the new Freelander brand is expected to go global in the years ahead. Made In China, Designed By The British Source: Jaguar Land Rover The Freelander lineup will be made up of electric vehicles built on Chery's existing EV architecture, with production taking place at CJLR's facility in Changshu. In an interview with Autocar, JLR China boss Qing Pan explained that the first model will be built on a 'flexible' in-house platform and styled by JLR's design team. The debut model, set to arrive in late 2026, will be a midsize plug-in hybrid SUV with a coupe-like silhouette. It will use Chery's T1X platform, the same one found in Omoda and Jaecoo models. JLR CEO Adrian Mardell called the move an 'important strategic step' that reaffirms the company's commitment to the Chinese market. A New Brand For The Entire World Source: Chery Freelander will operate independently from JLR and be sold by Chery-run dealerships. Though the launch is focused on China, the long-term goal includes global exports. If CJLR were to release Freelander across the globe from the get-go, it might steal too many sales from their upcoming luxury EVs like the electric successors to the Evoque. Chery Group Chairman Yin Tongyue described the partnership as 'an innovative collaboration model that epitomizes our growth path for the future.' A Familiar Name With a Bold New Mission Source: Land Rover The original Land Rover Freelander was a compact, somewhat off-road-capable luxury vehicle that emerged in the 1990s. Now, the name returns not as a model, but as a brand built from the ground up by two global players. The name returns with an entirely different ethos: building great bang-for-your-buck electrified SUVs for the entire world. Admittedly, it's not the Freelander you remember, but let's hope it avoids the same brand identity crisis that hit the Mustang Mach-E. About the Author Marnus Moolman View Profile
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Shocking moment woman screams at neighbour before torching Land Rover because she thought his badgers killed local cat
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the dramatic moment a woman screams at her neighbour and torches his Land Rover over a bitter badger row. Graham Lee, 56, saw his Freelander engulfed in flames after his neighbour tried to murder badgers living on his driveway. 9 Susan Lupton was filmed shouting at her neighbour "your badgers kill cats" Credit: Solent 9 The 63-year-old was caught appearing to film Mr Lee's house Credit: Solent 9 A court heard how Susan became "irrationally obsessed" Credit: Solent Susan Lupton, 63, dubbed her neighbour the "evil badger man" and believed the animals - which he fed - were responsible for killing a local cat. In creepy CCTV footage before the inferno, sparked in the coastal village of Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight, Lupton can be seen spying on Mr Lee's property. She walks down stairs outside her house, wearing an apron and smoking a cigarette. With her phone in hand, Lupton appears to film Mr Lees' house. After pacing back and forth, she stands eerily still and stares at the home with a look of fury. More videos taken at the scene of the blaze, on June 20 last year, show Lupton scream" your badgers kill cats" and her neighbour. The arson caused £18,500 worth of damages, with Lee's Freelander left as a burnt out shell. Another property was also damaged as the fire spread to a neighbouring house. When police questioned Lupton, who has bipolar disorder, having a manic episode, she confessed: "I did it, I'm responsible". She said she'd started the fire to get rid of the she thought they'd killed her neighbour's cat. Isle of Wight Court heard Lupton had ignited a plastic container filled with white spirit before sliding it under the car. Lupton, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980, claimed she had learnt how to start the fire from a firefighter friend. Prosecuting, Joanna Staples, told how the vehicle was completely gutted and a window, guttering, cooker extractor and a tree were all damaged beyond repair on a neighbouring property. Lee, a wildlife volunteer, would leave food out for the badgers on his driveway. 9 Graham Lee, 56, saw his Freelander engulfed in flames Credit: Solent 9 He rescued and fed badgers on his driveway Credit: Solent 9 His "pride and joy" was completely destroyed Credit: Solent But the animals haven't returned to the property since the fire, he said. In a victim impact statement, Lee said that Lupton was "sick, twisted and a manipulative individual". He added how she had left him constantly checking his security cameras out of fear she may appear on his driveway with some matches. Lee went on to add that his Land Rover was his "pride and joy" and said Lupton's actions had ruined his life. He told the court Lupton posted videos online of her throwing bricks at badgers and lacing bowls of food with glass. Neighbour Kavita Hayton, whose home was damaged by the incident, said the attack had left her "genuinely frightened" and in "a state of fear for many months". Defending, Jonathan Underhill, told the court his client had a single conviction for criminal damage on her record and that she had bipolar disorder. He asked the judge to give Lupton a suspended sentence to help with her rehabilitation. Judge James Newton-Price said the victims had suffered a "terrifying experience" and Lupton had developed a "fixation" and had become "irrationally obsessed". The judge added during sentencing: "You say you are horrified for what you've done. "I believe you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and that imprisonment would reverse your progress." Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835. She was handed two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years and was given a restraining order to stay away from Lee. In addition, Lupton has been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely. 9 Lupton has been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely Credit: Solent 9 The car was completely gutted Credit: Solent
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Shocking moment woman screams at neighbour before torching Land Rover because she thought his badgers killed local cat
THIS is the dramatic moment a woman screams at her neighbour and torches his Land Rover over a bitter badger row. Graham Lee, 56, saw his Freelander engulfed in flames after his neighbour tried to murder badgers living on his driveway. 9 Susan Lupton was filmed shouting at her neighbour "your badgers kill cats" Credit: Solent 9 The 63-year-old was caught appearing to film Mr Lee's house Credit: Solent 9 A court heard how Susan became "irrationally obsessed" Credit: Solent Susan Lupton, 63, dubbed her neighbour the "evil badger man" and believed the animals - which he fed - were responsible for killing a local cat. In creepy CCTV footage before the inferno, sparked in the coastal village of Freshwater Bay on the She walks down stairs outside her house, wearing an apron and smoking a cigarette. With her phone in hand, Lupton appears to film Mr Lees' house. Read More After pacing back and forth, she stands eerily still and stares at the home with a look of fury. More videos taken at the scene of the blaze, on June 20 last year, show Lupton scream" your badgers kill cats" and her neighbour. The arson caused £18,500 worth of damages, with Lee's Freelander left as a burnt out shell. Another property was also damaged as the fire spread to a neighbouring house. Most read in The Sun When police questioned Lupton, who has bipolar disorder, having a manic episode, she confessed: "I did it, I'm responsible". She said she'd started the fire to get rid of the she thought they'd killed her neighbour's cat. Lupton, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980, claimed she had learnt how to start the fire from a firefighter friend. Prosecuting, Joanna Staples, told how the vehicle was completely gutted and a window, guttering, cooker extractor and a tree were all damaged beyond repair on a neighbouring property. Lee, a wildlife volunteer, would leave food out for the badgers on his driveway. 9 Graham Lee, 56, saw his Freelander engulfed in flames Credit: Solent 9 He rescued and fed badgers on his driveway Credit: Solent 9 His "pride and joy" was completely destroyed Credit: Solent But the animals haven't returned to the property since the fire, he said. In a victim impact statement, Lee said that Lupton was "sick, twisted and a manipulative individual". He added how she had left him constantly checking his security cameras out of fear she may appear on his driveway with some matches. Lee went on to add that his Land Rover was his "pride and joy" and said Lupton's actions had ruined his life. He told the court Lupton posted videos online of her throwing bricks at badgers and lacing bowls of food with glass. Neighbour Kavita Hayton, whose home was damaged by the incident, said the attack had left her "genuinely frightened" and in "a state of fear for many months". Defending, Jonathan Underhill, told the court his client had a single conviction for criminal damage on her record and that she had bipolar disorder. He asked the judge to give Lupton a suspended sentence to help with her rehabilitation. Judge James Newton-Price said the victims had suffered a "terrifying experience" and Lupton had developed a "fixation" and had become "irrationally obsessed". The judge added during sentencing: "You say you are horrified for what you've done. "I believe you have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and that imprisonment would reverse your progress." Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835. She was handed two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years and was given a restraining order to stay away from Lee. In addition, Lupton has been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely. 9 Lupton has been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely Credit: Solent 9 The car was completely gutted Credit: Solent 9 Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835 Credit: Solent
